The finals were played at the Qualifiers for the European Cup on Saturday. The winners will face the sixth-place finisher of this year’s European Cups in playoff tournaments in September.
In Antwerp the Brasschaat Braves defeated the Leksand Lumberjacks 8-3 in the final game to win the Qualifier. Brasschaat needed a five-run seventh to edge break a 3-3 tie. A two-run single by Sim Ruts was the big hit during the rally. Nick van Thillo pitched three scoreless innings of strong relief to pick up the win.
Final Standings:
- Brasschaat Braves (BEL)
- Leksand Lumberjacks (SWE)
- Zurich Challengers (SUI)
- Nada Split (CRO)
- Vienna Wanderers (AUT)
In Athens the Olympic sports school 42 from Moscow shut out the Sofia Blues 4-0 in the final to win the Qualifier. Andrej Lobanov struck out ten in eight innings, finishing the tournament with 23 Ks in 13 2/3 frames, issuing just seven hits and no walks. Maxim Monakhov had a two-run triple during the decisive four-run fifth.
Final Standings:
- Olympic sports school 42 (RUS)
- Sofia Blues (BUL)
- Olimpija Karlovac (CRO)
- Maroussi 2004 (GRE)
- Atletico Alexandria (ROM)
In Brest host Brest Zubrs edged out the Vienna Metrostars 9-3 in the finals, winning the Qualifier in Belarus. They scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to break a 3-3 tie and prevail in the end. Aliaksei Lukashevich struck out eight in five innings of relief to pick up the win. The 13 strikeouts of Vienna’s Timothy Jones didn’t make the difference.
Final Standings:
- Brest Zubrs (BLR)
- Vienna Metrostars (AUT)
- Kaunas Lituanica (LTU)
- Centaury Warsaw (POL)
- BK Angels Trnava (SVK)
In Stockholm the North Stars from Moscow won a nail-biter 4-3 against the Stockholm Monarchs. Denis Leonov allowed seven hits, three runs and four walks in nine innings, out-dueling Alex Keenan. A RBI single by Artem Kulik made the difference in the bottom of the eighth. Magnus Pilegard and Peter Johannessen had three hits apiece for Stockholm. Sergey Solovev drove in two for Moscow.
Final Standings:
- North Stars Moscow (RUS)
- Stockholm Monarchs (SWE)
- Vilnius BC (LTU)
- Bern Cardinals (SUI)
All box scores, statistics and final reports are available at www.baseballstats.eu